Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 26:21-33, 39-44; Luke 14:1-24
With a voice of singing, declare, proclaim this, utter it to the end of the earth. Alleluia. The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob! Alleluia. (Isaiah 48:20, from the Introit for Easter 6)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Rebecca gave birth to her twins, they were tussling in the womb, fighting to be the firstborn. Esau was born first, but Jacob was gripping his heel, refusing to give up. This is why Rebecca named him “Jacob,” which means “he grips the heel.”
The name suited Jacob. He was anything but apathetic. When he wanted something, he really wanted it, and would do anything to get it. Jacob was willing to lie, deceive, trick, bargain, and blackmail to get whatever he wanted. Thus, his name came to mean “Crooked Guy,” “Deceiver,” or “Trickster.”
The nation of Israel is often called “Jacob.” The descendants of Jacob inherited their father’s character. Israel should have been a noble nation, a nation of righteousness and wisdom, but it became a nation of liars and cheaters.
We sing and we celebrate, because the Lord has redeemed Jacob! He redeemed His people! To redeem means to liberate someone, usually by buying his freedom. God’s people have been set free!
Jesus liberated us from sin. He paid for our freedom with His own blood and death. Your sins were condemned in His crucified body so that you can go free. Jacob won’t be sentenced to death for his lies and his tricks, because his lies and tricks were imputed to Christ.
The Hebrew word which means “to make right” looks surprisingly similar to the word “Israel” but it means “wrestles with God.” And so God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, God made the crooked guy straight or right. Likewise, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to all of God’s people, making them right in God’s eyes.
This is what Easter is all about! We celebrate that our Lord accepts us and sets us free! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
All righteousness by works is vain; The Law brings condemnation. True righteousness by faith I gain; Christ’s work is my salvation. His death, that perfect sacrifice, Has paid the all sufficient price; In Him my hope is anchored. (If Your Beloved Son, O God, LSB 568:4)
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter by Higher Things. Copyright Higher Things®, Higher Things - Dare to be Lutheran.
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